Prozac vs Xanax

2,062 views

Like

LikeLoveHahaWowSadAngry

Different drugs and supplements form a significant part of our lives. It is important to understand what effect each drug you take produces. Correct application of medicine allows to maintain a healthy condition and to avoid unpleasant situations.

In the following article, you will discover the main features of two well-known drugs, Xanax and Prozac. It will help you establish the difference between them and answer the bothering questions, like What is better? How to manage their dosing? Can you take Xanax with Prozac risk-free?

Is Prozac like Xanax? How they stack up?

Prozac is a brand name for Fluoxetine substance, which is a powerful antidepressant. Fluoxetine belongs to the SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) class and has a positive impact on the unbalanced brain chemicals.

Xanax is a trade name for Alprazolam, an anxiolytic of the short-term action. Alprazolam is a benzodiazepine and it produces a long-lasting sedative, amnestic, anticonvulsant and relaxing effect.

Indications for use

Xanax is prescribed to treat these central nervous system diseases:

anxiety

depression

panic disorder

convulsions

social anxiety

insomnia

Prozac can be applied for curing the following dysfunctions:

panic attacks

post-traumatic stress disorder

bulimia nervosa

obsessive-compulsive disorder

depression

premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Like Prozac, Xanax can also relieve menstrual pains, but this application is off-label and has not been supported by clinical studies yet.

Alprazolam vs. Fluoxetine: properties

As you can see, the difference between Xanax and Prozac lies in the biological properties of their active components. Prozac compared to Xanax does not cause addiction, but it stays much longer in the body than Xanax.

Component

Alprazolam

Fluoxetine

Trade names

Xanax

Prozac, Prozac Weekly, Sarafem

Pregnancy category

D (US) [Unsafe during pregnancy; see article for details]

AU: C

US: C (Risk not ruled out)

Dependence liability

High (addictive)

Psychological: Low
Physical: Low

Half-life

Immediate release: 11.2 hours; Extended release: 10.7–15.8 hours

Approximately 4-6 days

Drug forms

Tablets (0.25, 0.5, 1 or 2mg)

Capsules to be taken with water without being broken open

Legal status

POM (UK) Schedule IV (US)

UK: POM (Prescription only)

US: ℞-only

AU: S4 (Prescription only)

CA: ℞-only

Body excretion

Renal

Urine (80%), faeces (15%)

Bioavailability

80–90%

60–80%

Metabolism

Hepatic, via Cytochrome P450 3A4

Liver (mostly CYP2D6-mediated)

Chemical formula

C17H13ClN4

C17 H18 F3 NO.HCl

Intake way

Oral

Oral

Does it cause addiction?

Yes

No

Prozac vs. Xanax: Drug Forms and Dosing

Prozac is manufactured by Dista Products Company and Xanax is under the production of a well-known Pfizer U.S. Pharmaceuticals Group. As it has been mentioned before, these products can be purchased only according to the doctor’s prescription.

Tablet forms

Original Xanax is available in four different strengths while generics are more diverse. The Xanax strengths are as follows:

25 mg

5 mg

1 mg

2 mg

Prozac is produced in capsules of the following strengths:

10 mg

20 mg

40 mg

All Xanax and Prozac pills have corresponding engravings with the drug name and dose, which is very comfortable and helps to avoid confusion or mixing Prozac and Xanax.

Dosing Xanax

Xanax is recommended to be taken three times per day in equal amounts of Alprazolam. The starting dosage should be from 0.25 mg to 0.5 mg for anxiety treatment. If you are experiencing panic attacks, you have to take bigger amounts of Xanax.

The Alprazolam dose has to be increased every 3-4 days in order to avoid addiction and severe side effects. Elderly patients should take very small doses due to their age. The daily amount of Alprazolam should not exceed 6 mg for anxiety cure and 10 mg for depression therapy

Dosing Prozac

Prozac should be applied only once a day in the morning. The first intake is equal to 20 mg of Fluoxetine. You will have to increase the dose if after several weeks of treatment there have been no significant improvements.

The maximum allowed dosage is 80 mg per day. Although numerous studies prove that Prozac is more effective if taken in small amounts.

Xanax vs. Prozac: Warnings and Precautions

Do not take Xanax or Prozac if you have been diagnosed with the following:

allergic reaction to the components

glaucoma (especially narrow-angle)

problems with breathing

heart, liver or kidney diseases

alcohol and drug addiction

You should also avoid taking these medications if you are using MAO inhibitors and/or asthma inhalers.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Xanax is contraindicated both during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Alprazolam has been classified as the drug with the potential risk for mother and fetus.

The impact of Prozac has not been studied well yet, so its influence on birth giving and feeding with breast milk remains unknown. However, testing on animals has shown no considerable changes.

Side Effects

The adverse reactions to Xanax are quite alike to the reactions to Prozac. These include the following:

ataxia

fatigue

headaches

nausea

weariness

digestive problems

slight memory impairment

Do not hesitate to report to your doctor if you are experiencing one of these reactions. You might need to decrease the doses or stop taking the drugs.

Allergic reactions

Allergies to Alprazolam or Fluoxetine are extremely dangerous. If you are having hives, skin rash, face and tongue swelling, hard breathing and pain in the chest, you need to stop taking Xanax or Prozac and call for the emergency help!

Xanax vs. Fluoxetine: the price for treatment

The cost of Xanax tablets ranges from $1.91 to $3.35 per pill depending on its strengths and the box size. Prozac is twice as cheap and costs from $0.33 to $0.67 per tablet. Both products have the alternative generic versions, which are less expensive than the original ones.

Can you mix Xanax and Prozac?

Alprazolam and Fluoxetine act in a similar way, so mixing Prozac and Xanax would only multiply the effect. You might get too calm and relaxed, but also experience more severe adverse reactions due to the doubled dose. It is highly recommended to consult a healthcare provider before taking Xanax with Prozac.

Author: Dr. Andrew J. Olson

Dr. Andrew J. Olson is a PHD in psychiatry. He is also a psychiatrist consultant at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust. He also serves as a Clinical Director of the Department of Psychiatry, at Royal Marsden Hospital, in London, UK.

Medications for mental health diseases are getting more popular these days....

Different drugs and supplements form a significant part of our lives. It is important to understand what effect each drug you take produces. Correct application of medicine allows to maintain a healthy condition and to avoid unpleasant situations. In the following article, you will discover the main features of two well-known drugs, Xanax and Prozac. It will help you establish the difference between them and answer the bothering questions, like What is better? How to manage their dosing? Can you take Xanax with Prozac risk-free? Is Prozac like Xanax? How they stack up? Prozac is a brand name for Fluoxetine…